vis-à-vis
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What constitutes an Assault Weapon?
Define "Assault Weapon"
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nico
Member
there is no definitive definition. . . that's the point. The proponents of such bans claim that AWs are "military-style guns," meaning anything they decide looks too much like something that some military somewhere carried at some point in time is fair game. The term "assault weapon" is nothing but an attempt to take advantage of the general public's ignorance with respect to firearms and how they work.
Just for example, the AWB currently being proposed in MD would essentially ban all semi-auto handguns.
Just for example, the AWB currently being proposed in MD would essentially ban all semi-auto handguns.
DMK
Member
A "Assault Weapon" is a term used by those who want to ban semi-auto rifles. Legally, it was defined in the now defunct 1994 federal Assault Weapons Ban. With the demise of that law some states imposed their own version, and the actual description today varies from state to state depending on their legislation.
For the most part it's a semi-automatic pistol with a larger than 10 round magazine, or a semi-auto rifle with a detachable magazine and a few of the following features: a pistol grip that "extends conspicuously below the receiver", a flash suppressor or a barrel threaded to accept one, a bayonette lug, a folding or collapsing stock.
For pistols, I believe there was a weight limit as well.
The term "Assault Weapon" was designed to sound a lot like "Assault Rifle"(which is a "select fire" weapon capable of either semi-automatic or full automatic modes), thereby causing confusion between the two terms and leading some to believe the law in fact banned machine guns, which it did not at all.
Assault Rifles are machine guns and as such are regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934 (often referred to simply as the NFA).
For the most part it's a semi-automatic pistol with a larger than 10 round magazine, or a semi-auto rifle with a detachable magazine and a few of the following features: a pistol grip that "extends conspicuously below the receiver", a flash suppressor or a barrel threaded to accept one, a bayonette lug, a folding or collapsing stock.
For pistols, I believe there was a weight limit as well.
The term "Assault Weapon" was designed to sound a lot like "Assault Rifle"(which is a "select fire" weapon capable of either semi-automatic or full automatic modes), thereby causing confusion between the two terms and leading some to believe the law in fact banned machine guns, which it did not at all.
Assault Rifles are machine guns and as such are regulated by the National Firearms Act of 1934 (often referred to simply as the NFA).
DMK
Member
Wrong! See my post above.
Again the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 had nothing to do with Assault Rifles.
Assault Rifles are regulated by the NFA of 1934.
This is a perfect example of anti-gun subterfuge
vis-à-vis
Member
Hrrmm so all three of the guns I want to buy this year (see sig) can be classified as an Assault weapon as well as my 15 shot Glock? I read today on here AWB II was just introduced. I need more money and will probably revert to Ramen soup and bologna sandwhiches and sacrifice my wine budget till I can get my hands on what I need (just in case).
DWARREN123
Member
A weapon that I would use to assault an enemy position. I have not seen any lately at gun shows or shops. Mine would have to have auto fire capability (not burst) and use a medium size round, be short enough to handle in confined quarters.
DMK
Member
No need for apologies. You just helped me prove the point of how cleverly deceptive the anti-gun crowd can be.
Even if it was unintentional.
See?
mpmarty
Member
An Assault Weapon is anything I choose to use to do physical damage your body or that of another, in other words any weapon used to commit an assault.
Assault Rifle on the other hand is defined quite clearly as a select fire, high capacity, rifle commonly using reduced power or lighter recoiling ammunition as in the 7.92 x 33 which was the first recognized assault rifle cartridge.
Also a crew served weapon such as the M-60 does not become an Assault Rifle when Rambo shoots it from the hip.
Assault Rifle on the other hand is defined quite clearly as a select fire, high capacity, rifle commonly using reduced power or lighter recoiling ammunition as in the 7.92 x 33 which was the first recognized assault rifle cartridge.
Also a crew served weapon such as the M-60 does not become an Assault Rifle when Rambo shoots it from the hip.
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SSN Vet
Member
an assault weapon is a realy cool rifle....
that I want very much....
primarily because it will make the wussininis wet their pants and piss Hillary off.
Sorry, I couldn't resist
that I want very much....
primarily because it will make the wussininis wet their pants and piss Hillary off.
Sorry, I couldn't resist
nico
Member
Exactly my point. The term "assault weapon" was coined in order to sound ambiguously similar to "assault rifle" which has an actual definition. The worst thing is, the gun grabbers have been so successful in their use of the term that they've even gotten a lot of pro-gun people using the terms interchangeably.
Stretchman
member
The reason it came about? Anyone?
I was going to say gang violence and drive by shootings that were killing bystanders and got so bad that people took to sleeping in their bathtubs to avoid the strays, but then, I would be mistaken.
Mostly involving drug runners and low level street criminals who were getting their hands on mostly Aks but also Tec 9s and other high capacity weapons and then modifying them to fire full auto.
But if you say it's because of Hillary and other liberal politicians, then who am I to argue.
I was going to say gang violence and drive by shootings that were killing bystanders and got so bad that people took to sleeping in their bathtubs to avoid the strays, but then, I would be mistaken.
Mostly involving drug runners and low level street criminals who were getting their hands on mostly Aks but also Tec 9s and other high capacity weapons and then modifying them to fire full auto.
But if you say it's because of Hillary and other liberal politicians, then who am I to argue.
glimmerman
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dont forget to mention the bayonets for all those drive by stabbings. lol:banghead:
My Sociology teacher was running his mouth about "assault weapons" to my class one day. I simply asked him to please define the term. He couldn't give me an intelligible answer. Asking for facts often is a good fix when gun grabbers run their mouths.
Stretchman
member
That's good game. But if you still don't understand why, then take a look at what happened in places like South Central, and Liberty City. I worked areas likr those and there was gunfire every night. Just because the news stations wouldn't put in on unless a kid got killed doesn't mean that it wasn't happening. In fact, the psychology was that they were just out for attention, so we were helping their goals by putting those crimes on TV. So, we never got to see what was really up. Lots of shot up and dead people who never so much as made the paper.
Actualy I am going to have to take a slightly different attitude than most here in explaining it is only cosmetic, or prior military, or semi autos, though that is all true.
"Assault weapon" is not limited to semi auto, but in fact includes whatever an anti feels makes a firearm a more capable weapon, or can be sold to the general public as such. This can be forward hand grips, pistol grips, barrel shrouds so the hot barrel won't burn someone, flash or sound suppressors that allow a person to use the weapon without being blinded or needing hearing protection (which means they would be more aware because they can be in tune with movement and things apporaching etc) or allows for quicker reloading by using a removable or detachable magazine. Or holds more ammo than is deemed necessary by design. Or if it has a short barrel or is easier to wield, which means bullpups and SBR etc. Or something unique simply because it won't have wide resistance and can be quickly banned such as "any pistol with a detachable magazine outside the pistol's grip" even though it makes little difference in actual operation. Semi Autos are simply the most efficient civilian legal design so are the focus of current anti targeting. However if those were banned, high (normal) capacity pump or lever, or bolt actions, especialy with detachable magazines would be the focus of "assault weapon" laws.
The goal of the antis is disarmament, however that is a large war, so they fight the battles in between which focus resources at what either they feel is the most effective, or will garner the least resistance and make the most use of thier funding, and then create a philosophy to market to thier supporters. Currently that is semi autos, primarily ones that look like select fire military counterparts, this makes it easy because they can show footage of the full autos being used and then speak of the semi as if it is the same weapon.
However the very term "assault" implies they are evil and offensive. Since any firearm can be used offensively the term can be applied to whatever is currently in the antis' crosshairs and is a main priority whether it is a weapon, or simply a cartridge as we see in the case of the BMG, "assault weapon" is a relative term with no actual definition.
So the term can be applied to anything they at the time consider to have too many "evil" features, as they outlaw or ban types of firearms, the features used to identify them slowly increase to be suitably inclusive.
It is simply a divide and conquer technique, allowing one to define what segment of the firearm population they wish to battle at a given time so they are not overwhelmed and can control the amount of opposition they face at any given time.
"Assault weapon" is not limited to semi auto, but in fact includes whatever an anti feels makes a firearm a more capable weapon, or can be sold to the general public as such. This can be forward hand grips, pistol grips, barrel shrouds so the hot barrel won't burn someone, flash or sound suppressors that allow a person to use the weapon without being blinded or needing hearing protection (which means they would be more aware because they can be in tune with movement and things apporaching etc) or allows for quicker reloading by using a removable or detachable magazine. Or holds more ammo than is deemed necessary by design. Or if it has a short barrel or is easier to wield, which means bullpups and SBR etc. Or something unique simply because it won't have wide resistance and can be quickly banned such as "any pistol with a detachable magazine outside the pistol's grip" even though it makes little difference in actual operation. Semi Autos are simply the most efficient civilian legal design so are the focus of current anti targeting. However if those were banned, high (normal) capacity pump or lever, or bolt actions, especialy with detachable magazines would be the focus of "assault weapon" laws.
The goal of the antis is disarmament, however that is a large war, so they fight the battles in between which focus resources at what either they feel is the most effective, or will garner the least resistance and make the most use of thier funding, and then create a philosophy to market to thier supporters. Currently that is semi autos, primarily ones that look like select fire military counterparts, this makes it easy because they can show footage of the full autos being used and then speak of the semi as if it is the same weapon.
However the very term "assault" implies they are evil and offensive. Since any firearm can be used offensively the term can be applied to whatever is currently in the antis' crosshairs and is a main priority whether it is a weapon, or simply a cartridge as we see in the case of the BMG, "assault weapon" is a relative term with no actual definition.
So the term can be applied to anything they at the time consider to have too many "evil" features, as they outlaw or ban types of firearms, the features used to identify them slowly increase to be suitably inclusive.
It is simply a divide and conquer technique, allowing one to define what segment of the firearm population they wish to battle at a given time so they are not overwhelmed and can control the amount of opposition they face at any given time.
DMK
Member
And it's worked well for them.
I can't even count how many times I've heard the phrase "nobody needs an Assault Weapon..." (or usually it's Assault Rifle) uttered by a fellow gun owner.
Divide and conquer indeed.
hunttheevil
Member
I agree with MPMarty,
"An Assault Weapon is anything I choose to use to do physical damage your body or that of another, in other words any weapon used to commit an assault."
Whatever weapon, knife, bat, firearm, etc., you use to attack someone is an assault weapon. Now, if you are on the other end of this scenario and are armed, you have a defence weapon.
Evil
"An Assault Weapon is anything I choose to use to do physical damage your body or that of another, in other words any weapon used to commit an assault."
Whatever weapon, knife, bat, firearm, etc., you use to attack someone is an assault weapon. Now, if you are on the other end of this scenario and are armed, you have a defence weapon.
Evil
DoubleTapDrew
Member
I agree that it was made up to sound very similar to Assault Rifle (select fire, intermediate rifle cartridge). Wasn't the sturmgewehr 44 the first assault rifle?
Back when the AW Ban was just starting, some nitwit female on the radio (I believe she was a politician, probably one of the big names we all love so much), when asked what a semi-automatic gun was, flat out said it was a gun that will continue to fire as long as the trigger is held down. Who knows how many people continue to believe that.
Back when the AW Ban was just starting, some nitwit female on the radio (I believe she was a politician, probably one of the big names we all love so much), when asked what a semi-automatic gun was, flat out said it was a gun that will continue to fire as long as the trigger is held down. Who knows how many people continue to believe that.
SSN Vet
Member
FACTS! they don't need on stinkin' facts!
Never let a little thing like facts stand in the way of your noble cause to make the country safe for gang bangers and rapist!
Heck.....the libs can't even define what "sex" is (when it's expedient for them, that is)....and you're asking them to define "assault weapon"?
Quintin Likely
Member
A weapon that you would assault someone with.
Calibers and firing modes aside, it's a silly term. It's a rifle, a pistol, a shotgun, or just a firearm. I wish folks would leave it at that.
Calibers and firing modes aside, it's a silly term. It's a rifle, a pistol, a shotgun, or just a firearm. I wish folks would leave it at that.
You might as well wish for that winning lottery ticket to fall out of the sky into your hands. There will ALWAYS be someone somewhere that will attempt to know what's best for YOU.
As things stand now, I'm afraid we as firearm owners are too divided to improve matters in our favor next year. The truth as I see it is, too many owners are only concerned with THEIR favorite particular sub-group of firearm. :banghead: Until we all fully understand that just because today they want my Ar-15, doesn't mean that tomorrow they won't want your prized Springfield 1903.
Sorry for the rant, just went through a conversation earlier today with a co-worker based on my AR vs. his spiffy WWI & WWII collection.
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